MEMORANDUM

TO: City Council

FROM: David J. Deutsch, City Manager

SUBJECT: Status Report/Council Poll

DATE: September 7, 2006

Status Report

1. Cresthill Baptist Church DSP #92062/03

On Thursday, September 28th, a County Planning Board hearing will be held for the Cresthill Baptist Church Detailed Site Plan (DSP). This is a proposal to build a community center and day care, and expand an existing school and church from a 234-seat sanctuary/worship center to a 900-seat one. The site is comprised of 6.9 acres, is zoned R-E (Residential-Estate), and is located on the west side of Laurel-Bowie Road (MD Route 197) 100 feet north of its intersection with Grason Lane.

This application has been pending for almost two (2) years. The applicant had requested a continuance of their September 23, 2004 County Planning Board hearing date because they were in the process of trying to acquire the adjacent 30-foot wide outlot, owned by Prince George’s County, located south of the church’s property, to allow the installation of the required landscape buffering and screening between the church parking lot and residential properties in the Grady’s Walk subdivision. The applicant is about to acquire the property from Prince George’s County and is ready to proceed with the application.

In September 2004 the City Council recommended approval of the application with 11 conditions. The City’s conditions related to architecture, landscaping, and parking. Several of the conditions addressed landscaping in the parking area. There have been no new plan submissions since the City’s recommendation was made.

2. Petroleum Management Board of Appeals Hearing

On Wednesday, September 6th, the Prince George's County Board of Appeals heard two (2) appeal cases filed by Petroleum Management Inc. (PMI) regarding the three (3) existing, 10,000-gallon aboveground storage tanks located at 8333 Zug Road. The first appeal involves a request for a variance from the Fire Code to allow the storage tanks to be located above ground. The second appeal is from the County's refusal to issue a building permit for the tanks. Approximately 50 people attended the hearing, including Zug Road business owners, area residents, Councilman Kroemer, Delegate Jim Hubbard, and City and County staff. Sixteen individuals, including City staff, signed up to address the Board in opposition to the appeals. Chairperson Bobbie Mack indicated at the outset that she would not allow the hearing to run past 9:00 p.m. and that the Board would have to continue the case to another date if additional time was needed. Around 9:00 p.m. the appellant, represented by attorneys William Knight and Anthony Tedesco, completed their case, which included the following four (4) witnesses: Bobby Hofstetter (owner of PMI); Thomas Cooksey (a PMI employee, tank expert and former fire code inspector); Ed Woods (former Glenn Dale fire chief who is trained to deal with railway emergencies); and Susan Schult (an environmental consultant specializing in hazardous waste matters). No other testimony was received, and the Board announced that the hearing would continue on Wednesday, September 20, 2006 at 6:00 p.m. and would finish the same day, regardless of the hour.

3. Old Town Bowie Revitalization Committee Meeting

The OTBRC met Tuesday, September 5th at the Knights of St. John Hall on 12th Street. Vice Chair Lisa Keller ran the meeting in Chairman Bob Thompson’s absence. The owners of four businesses attended the meeting, as well as eight residents, two Knights of St. John representatives, and three City staff members. Councilman Kroemer also attended.

Vice Chair Keller led the meeting with a discussion of the annual December Family Holiday Fun event. Staff told the group that this year the City’s holiday activities in Old Town Bowie will revolve around the post-Thanksgiving Trainspotting event, to be held November 26, 2006. The Trainspotting event, held every year the Sunday after Thanksgiving, draws over 150 people to the area. Meeting attendees voted to continue involvement in a holiday event coinciding with the November 26 Train-spotting but as yet no individuals have stepped forward to lead that involvement effort.

The other agenda items covered were a discussion on the printing of the HOBMA marketing brochure, and the Friends of Old Town Bowie produced Fall Festival event to be held Sunday, September 24th.

4. Old Town Bowie Wayfinding and Gateway Signage Program Update

Staff met with John Peters of Interpretive Graphics, who will provide a needs assessment for Old Town Bowie's Wayfinding and Gateway Signage Program. Mr. Peters toured Old Town Bowie, noting the "gateway" areas, as well as its historic, railroad, and trails significance. In addition Mr. Peters gathered information about visitors, residents, and businesses in the area. Preliminarily, it was determined that there is a need for signage in Old Town Bowie which will help enhance the revitalization effort, contribute to creating the desired "sense of place," and generate greater interest in Old Town Bowie's historic sites and shopping district. Staff will provide Interpretive Graphic's final report and recommendations to Council upon completion.

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